Some more clarification on Priority Date Retrogression
Guys:
If there is still any confusion on the Priority Date Retrogression read the
following:
http://www.allhod.com/priority_regress.shtml
Text from the above website is pasted below in case you are not able to open it:
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EB-3 priority dates regress to January 1, 2002 for India, China, and Philippines
In a stunning development, the new visa bulletin from the Department of State released on December 8, 2004 announced that the priority date for EB-3 cases has regressed to January 1, 2002. The regression applies to beneficiaries born in India, mainland China, and the Philippines, regardless of present citizenship.
The EB-3 category is the largest employment based Green Card category. This category requires labor certification, and applies to workers whose jobs require a bachelor's degree or two years of experience. The priority date is established when the labor certification is filed.
No adjustment application can be filed until the priority date is current. That means that no one can file an adjustment application if the labor certification was filed on or after January 1, 2002. If the adjustment is now pending, it cannot be approved unless the labor certification was filed before January 1, 2002.
People with pending adjustment applications whose priority dates are no longer current remain in adjustment "status," and can still get EADs and advance parole.
Similarly, no one can file for an immigrant visa based on an approved I-140 until the priority date is current. The I-140 petition will remain at the National Visa Center until the priority date becomes current.
All other employment categories remain current, including the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. This means there will be a big advantage, at least for now, in filing as an EB-2 if possible.
If a person has an earlier priority date based on a different labor certification from a previous employer, this priority date can be used if there is an approved I-140 based on that labor certification, and the I-140 has not been withdrawn by the employer.
Also, if a person has been substituted on a labor certification originally filed for another person, the priority date is the date the original labor certification was filed.
The reason given for the retrogression is that CIS has approved many adjustment applications in recent months, and used up the quota of immigrant visas available.
The visa bulletin is issued every month. The retrogression applies to the month of January. It is not known at this time if the retrogression is temporary or permanent.
There will be a huge impact if the priority dates remain backlogged. Workers with approved I-140 petitions who are not able to file adjustment applications will not be able to get EADs or change employers under AC21. The only way to remain in the US will be to keep working for the original employer in H-1B status using seventh year extensions.
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